EastEnders legend Maisie Smith has addressed the possibility of a return to her role as Tiffany Butcher in the BBC soap.

Maisie was just six years old when she took on the role in 2008, which she continued to play on and off until 2022.

She was involved in some major storylines during her time on the show, including an on-going feud with Dotty Cotton, drug smuggling and her marriage to Keegan Baker.

In 2022, Tiffany and Keegan left to live in Germany after reconciling their relationship, which was very nearly sabotaged by Liam Butcher.

Tiffany had written a letter to Keegan confessing her love and instructing him to meet her at the tube station if he felt the same. She also included divorce papers, asking him to sign if he didn’t.

However, when Keegan opened the envelope there were only the divorce papers inside, as Liam had removed the letter. With both parties believing their marriage to be over, Tiffany left for Germany with Liam in 2021.

When she returned a few months later, she learnt that Keegan had never received her letter and actually still loved her, so the pair left Albert Square together.

Since leaving EastEnders, Maisie has toured the UK in several musicals, including Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds.

In 2020, Maisie competed on Strictly Come Dancing, where she met her current partner, The Wanted singer Max George, who she began dating in 2022.

She reached the final of the BBC show alongside dance partner Gorka Marquez, but ultimately lost out on the Glitterball trophy to comedian Bill Bailey and partner Oti Mabuse.

Recently, Maisie supported boyfriend Max as he underwent surgery to have a pacemaker fitted.

Maisie also impressed viewers with her grit and determination when she won Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2022.

Now, she is set to take on the role of Marge Sherwood in the stage adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley – a role made famous by Gwyneth Paltrow in the 1999 movie.

She will star alongside The Crown actor Ed McVey, who is set to play conman Tom Ripley as the play hits numerous towns and cities across the UK, including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford and Salford.

However, fans are always keen to know whether she will return to EastEnders.

Speaking to the Loose Women panel this week, Maisie didn’t entirely rule out the possibility.

‘You don’t know, you never know,’ she said.

‘I’m really enjoying being on stage and it’s so much fun and so different. This show I’m doing is going to be incredible. It’s the first ever UK tour of The Talented Mr Ripley.’

She went on to explain that it has been difficult to get the accent right for her new role, revealing that she has been working with a dialect coach to help.

‘Being from Essex, I don’t pronounce vowels or consonants… The dialect coach was like “you have to move your mouth”,’ she laughed.

She also noted how different this part was to her previous roles, Tiffany included, saying: ‘It’s a really exciting part, very different to anything I’ve done. I’ve never done a play. I’ve done TV and some musicals… I’m really excited to have a few weeks to prepare for a nice acting role.’

Maisie would not be the first star to return to EastEnders if she chose to, with countless iconic characters having arrived back in Walford in the last year.

Most recently, Michelle Ryan reprised her role as Zoe Slater – the character who famously declared ‘You ain’t my mother!’ during a row with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) in 2001.

Fans had been desperate for the iconic character to make a comeback following her 2005 exit, with Michelle hinting that she would be willing to go back in several Instagram posts.

Since her return to Walford, it has been clear that Zoe has been keeping some major secrets and is in deep trouble with someone. Will she be able to get out of it?